Hawaiibassfishing Forum

Greetings all,

Been away for a while, works been too busy, not enough quality time out fishing.

Hef had a question about swimbaits and I wanted to add my .02 cents

Swim bait fishing is something that you really want to dedicate some time towards. Not every day, will you get the quality fish everyone hope's for, but in time, the bite can be epic!!

I've been fishing with swim baits for many years, with excellent success. However, I still have not reached the 10lb mark (wife has caught 3 bass over 10lbs I'm not worthy)

Some days, your lucky if you get one follow, some days a bunch of follower's-----but still no bite. Then Bam! you get one, even a couple. My best day, I caught over a dozen on swim baits, however, this is not the norm!

Bottom line, it's all about time on the water, fishing the big baits.

Here's a few pictures of some of my swim baits:




Bait Smith swim baits- most are 5" to 6" size - great swim action



Matt Lures giant 12" trout swim bait, injured version, custom rigged



Matt Lures giant 8" lg mouth bass



Matt Lures new 5" Hard Bluegill and Crappie swim baits. Quality is un-matched. Best in the market. Also a couple lg wooden walking baits



Matt Lures swim baits



Some of many swim baits, last count----over 400, lost track



Here's me, actually spending some time on one of my charters this past year.

Yes, I am a tackle ho!!! It's great having sponsors!!!

Swim baits do work, just got to put in your time......Especially with all those large Tuc's, that Lake Wilson has to offer!!

Bass regards, Mel "Kahuna bass"
Swim bait master and Dark side Live Baiter

Greetings all,

Where's all the swim bait thrower's

Water starting to clear up, work them big baits really slow.

Kahuna bass

Eh kahuna, that's one nice yella fella you got there! WTG!

When you say "one of my charter" you don't mean you work on one or own one, do you? Otherwise, that would be cool!

Howzit Ken,

Yellow Tail fishing is a blast. Espacially on the yoyo iron.

As for my charter, this past season, I was a charter master for 4 trips. I was the Rep. for Graphite USA fishing rod company for the past few years. However, in October, the company went out of business.

Santa was good to me this year. A friend in Australia and myself have bought all the assets and will go into business early this coming year. Matter of fact, we started to move all the assets today

It's not even the new year, and I'm off to a good start already!!

Bass regards, Mel "Kahuna bass"
Dark side live baiter, swim bait ho ho
and soon to be Fishin pole maker!!

That's even cooler Mel! Where is the business going to be based?

Now I can say I know the part owner of Graphite USA

I'm visiting San Diego again in 2009...May 5th to May 8th. This time, it is all pleasure and pure fishing business . If you have time after work and want to meet up to talk stories and share a cast, that'll be cool. I'm hoping to catch some bat rays in Mission Bay or leopard sharks in Mission Beach in the evening when I visit

Howzit Ken,

Thanks, but were not going with the Graphite USA name. With the issues that the prior company had, which were many. We're looking to have our own name. Of course, that still has not been decieded

Plans are to remain in Southern Cal, still working out the details.

If I'm in town during your stay in San Diego, you bet, we need to go wet the line. Might be a good time for yellow tail!! Mini-long range.

I know your a fly fisherman, I have a couple fly blanks I don't need. You just have to find someone to wrap them for you Let me know if you want them. (2wt- 4 piece, 4wt - 4 piece, 7wt - 4 piece) 9' to 9'-6"

Thanks again.

Bass regards, Mel "Kahuna bass"
fishin pole fella

Hey Mel,

Sure thing! Yellowtail sound good. I'm there for 3.5 days...so I can manage a 1 day Tuna or 1.5 Day...but if 3/4 day is good enough, I'd rather do that and save some money If not, whatever it takes to get to some yellowtails But the 1.5 Day is likely the max that I can do...since I like to save some time to catch the corvina, spotfin croaker, sargo, rock wrasse and opaleye in Mission Bay.

That's generous of you! I'll gladly take those blanks. Maybe I'll try wrapping them myself...gotta start somewhere and sometime. Let me at least buy you a nice dinner when me meet up to thank you.

PM me your address and let me know how much shipping is...and I'll send you a cheque for the shipping.

Hi Ken,

Sounds like a winner. I can't promise I'll be in town (most of my work is oversea's), but I will try.

No worries, the blanks are yours. I think you'll enjoy wrapping them. I recommend you bring a rod tube. I got other blanks you can have
As long as you use them

It should be a good time of year, both bay and islands.

We certainly have time to plan something.

Bass regards, Mel "Kahuna bass"
Local fish guide-----nah, not really

Sounds good. We'll plan closer to my arrival...you'll have better idea by then.

I'm bringing a Flambeau Bazuka rod case with me...I'm sure a few can fit in there

Hey, if you need any rep guys in Canada, I can talk to a few friends. My friends fish the bass tournament circuits in Ontario and I'm sure they know a few guys who can demo for you and promote the new rods. I also know a friend who used to make TV fishing shows in Canada...not sure if he's still making them though...His name is Steve Jojos from In-Line fishing. You can do a search for his name online.

Kahuna thanks for the info

Hey Mel, how about "KAHUNA GRAPHITE"?

Ken, I'm jealous, what a score on the blanks especially the 2wt.